Mohamed Salah’s Double Ends Bournemouth 11-match unbeaten streak
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to a commanding six points after a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Bournemouth, with Mohamed Salah once again the hero. The Egyptian forward netted both goals in the match, taking his season tally to 21 and securing crucial points for the Reds as they continue their march towards the title.
Salah opened the scoring with a penalty in the 30th minute after a controversial foul by Lewis Cook on Cody Gakpo. The decision sparked some frustration from Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who voiced his displeasure about the minimal contact between the two players. Despite the protests, Salah made no mistake from the spot, putting Liverpool in the driver’s seat.
Bournemouth responded strongly after the break, creating several opportunities to draw level. Justin Kluivert had the best chance of the game for the Cherries, with an open goal at his mercy, but the forward inexplicably fired wide. That miss proved costly, as Salah doubled Liverpool’s lead just minutes later, curling in a stunning second goal from an acute angle in the 75th minute to effectively seal the win.
Bournemouth’s spirited fight continued, with Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier both hitting the woodwork, but Liverpool’s defense held firm. Alisson was also called into action in stoppage time, making a vital save to preserve his clean sheet and the three points for his team.
The victory marked Liverpool’s 17th win of the season, with the Reds now sitting on 56 points from 23 games. Second-placed Arsenal and third-place Nottingham Forest both trail by six and nine points respectively. Salah’s brace not only secured the win but also saw him move past Chelsea legend Frank Lampard into sixth place on the Premier League’s all-time top scorers list with 178 goals.
While the result was a big step towards the title, there was some concern for Liverpool as Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a muscle injury in the second half. The right-back’s injury is now a major worry for Liverpool, with the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham looming on Thursday. Manager Arne Slot confirmed Alexander-Arnold had requested to be substituted, and while the extent of the injury is not yet clear, Slot admitted it’s never a good sign when a player asks to come off.
Despite the injury concerns, Liverpool’s performance was solid overall, with Salah once again proving his worth. The win also ended Bournemouth’s 11-match unbeaten streak, a run that had seen them claim notable scalps including Arsenal, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest.
“We had to play at the top of our abilities,” said Slot. “It was an open and even game, but we needed some luck to win. Bournemouth kept pushing, but we defended well when it mattered.”
Liverpool now sit comfortably at the top, with their unbeaten league run stretched to 20 matches. With a six-point cushion and a game in hand.
